Combat Challenge

The Firefighter Combat Challenge, broadcast on ESPN, attracts hundreds of U.S. and Canadian municipal fire departments each year at more than 25 locations and is seen by more than 30 million people worldwide. The Challenge seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession's rigors to the public. Wearing "full bunker gear" and self contained breathing apparatus, competitors simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing a 5 story tower while carrying a 45# hose pack. Once at the top they will hoist another 45# hose pack to the top of the tower using a rope, then it’s back down the stairs to the Kaiser Sled where they will simulate forcible entry by swinging a 9# mallet striking the end of a 150# steel beam moving it a minimum of 5 feet! As if that wasn’t enough they will run 140 feet weaving through fire hydrants then advance a charged 1 ¾” water charged hose line 75’ tasked with hitting a target with a stream of water. This event ends with the dragging of a life-sized, 175# manikin 100’ to cross the finish line racing against themselves, their opponent, and the clock. This is why it is referred to as the “toughest two-minutes in sports”